Top 10 Songs of 1984
March 2nd 2009 22:00
Dancing round and round
As we roll on through the years, the flavor of the 80s really starts to take on its own style and the 70s are once and truly left behind. In no particular order, we have another ten songs from another year of the decade you love the most...
SONGS OF 1984
Jump – Van Halen
This was the absolute peak of Van Halen and David Lee Roth. The album MCMLXXXIV (1984) spawned a stack of kick-ass hits like Panama, Hot for Teacher and this chart topper. Its the kind of song that I can put on anytime and it will bring me up. I don’t want to hear about the latest emo problems – this was back when rock songs were more than a personal whinge fest for rich brats – “I get up, and nothing gets me down – you've got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real...” Right on. Check out the Van Halen post HERE.
Footloose – Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins is like the soundtrack king! Here he hams it up big time on the Kevin Bacon classic and one of the best selling Soundtracks to the 80s, featured HERE
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
Who Ya Gonna Call? Awesome movie, catchy as hell tune. Even if you never saw the movie, everyone on the planet knows this song. It has a classic video with cameos from the whole cast, as well as appearances by Chevy Chase, John Candy, Danny DeVito and a host of others.
Fade to Black – Metallica
Another song that bought a lot of controversy about when released. It was one of the first songs of its kind and eventually built up from an acoustic picked intro into a full fledge metal crescendo. I used to listen to this song non-stop in my car when I first got my licence and I was pissed off. It can be depressing, but sometimes its cool to hear you’re not the only one...
Come Said the Boy – Mondo Rock
This is one of the very best songs written in Australia. Although it caused a bit of a shake-up on its initial release and was even banned on Sydney radio for a while, it has largely been forgotten. It pretty much reminds me of the very thing it is about. Chilling, touching and masterful songwriting.
Purple Rain – Prince
The movie was beyond bad and the soundtrack was pretty weird, but it can’t be denied that the dude can wail. Not only did he have a huge range in singing, but he was the master of the piano and could blaze a solo on guitar too. I think guitar virtuoso Steve Vai said himself – “You’re just not supposed to be that good at guitar when you’re already so good at singin’, dancin’ and piano!” Either way, its prime songwriting.
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun charted much higher but this has stood the test of time better and is actually a great song with some awesome chordal changes.
Round And Round – Ratt
One of the very first hair metal songs to chart. This was Ratt’s beginning and swan-song in one. It recently achieved new life after being prominently featured in The Wrestler.
Drive – The Cars
I’ve never been the biggest advocate for ‘new wave’ style bands, but the Cars had a few great songs, this being the best of the lot. ‘Who’s gonna drive you home?’
Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
The biggest charting single of the year in about 20 different countries. We did The Boss’ own Top Ten HERE
Other notable mentions:
Panama – Van Halen, Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)– Phil Collins, Like A Virgin – Madonna, What's Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!, When Doves Cry – Prince & The Revolution, Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper, Sister Christian – Night Ranger, 99 Luftballons – Nena, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues – Elton John, I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder, Do They Know It's Christmas – Band Aid, Rock You Like A Hurricane – Scorpions, Radio Ga-Ga – Queen, Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins, Hot For Teacher – Van Halen, Eat It – Weird Al Yankovic, Sunglasses At Night – Corey Hart, Let's Hear It For The Boy – Deniece Williams, Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean, We're Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister, Pride (In The Name Of Love) – U2, If This Is It – Huey Lewis & The News, I Can't Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar, Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Heaven's on Fire – KISS, Axel F – Harold Faltermeyer, Run to You – Bryan Adams, Animal – WASP, The Heat Is On – Glenn Frey
“Come with me boy, just take my hand, I'll let you see what you wanna see, come and be my man for me.”
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Comment by Elizabeth2-7
A shadow of herself
My top pick from your list is Jump by Van Halen. I agree that it's a good upbeat song. I can still see David Lee Roth doing his high kicks.
The tune Like A Virgin by Madonna now reminds me of a hysterically funny scene from Moulin Rouge